Line space for power transmission lines

ABSTRACT

A line spacer for use between power transmission lines to maintain the lines at a set spacing front each other includes at least two spaced jaws and a lever action closure mechanism operable to close the jaws after engaging of the spacer onto adjacent lines, to fix the spacer in position between the lines.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention comprises a line spacer typically for use between powertransmission lines spanning between pylons, to maintain individual linesat a set spacing from each other.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Typically such line spacers are fitted to high voltage power lines atregular spacings along the lines lengthwise between pylons or other linesupports, to ensure that individual lines do not move relative to oneanother and touch during periods of high wind loading, earthquakes orsimilar. Typically spacers extend between two adjacent lines andencircle each at either end of the spacer. A triple or larger spacer maybe used to space three or more lines from each other.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,962 discloses a spacer for fitting between parallelconductors having jaws at each end forming a conductor clamp at each endof the bar members. The two bar members are bolted together afterfitting in position between two conductors.

Line spacers are fitted after the lines have been strung between pylons.A common practice is for a workman to fit the spacers between pairs oflines while working from an adjacent helicopter. This may require thatthe workman fits the spacer and then uses a spanner or other tool toclose the spacer about the lines.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention provides an improved or at least alternative form of linespacer, for use between power transmission lines or in similarapplications.

In broad terms the invention comprises a spacer for use between lines tomaintain the lines at a set spacing from each other, including at leasttwo spaced jaws and a lever action closure mechanism operable to closethe jaws after engaging of the spacer onto adjacent lines to fix thespacer in position between the lines.

Preferably each pair of jaws comprises a fixed jaw part and a movablejaw part which is slidingly moved by the lever action closure mechanismto close the moving jaw part against the fixed jaw part.

Preferably a twin spacer comprises two fixed jaw parts provided one ateither end of a spacer member connecting the fixed jaw parts and twomovable jaw parts slidingly carried by said spacer member between thefixed jaw parts. Preferably the lever action closure mechanism operatesbetween the two movable jaw parts to slidingly move each away from theother and towards two fixed jaw parts to close the line spacer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of spacer of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings by way of example and without intending to be limiting,wherein:

FIG. 1 is the view of the preferred form spacer from one side with theclosure lever and jaws open,

FIG. 2 is a view of the preferred form spacer from one side afteroperating of the closure lever to close the spacer,

FIG. 3 is a view of the closed spacer in the direction of arrow A inFIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a partial view of a cross-section, of the spring-loaded end ofthe closure lever of FIG. 1, taken perpendicular to the page along theline I-I and viewed in the direction of the arrows as shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORM

The preferred form line spacer shown in the drawings is a twin spacerintended to be fitted between two overhead power transmission lines, orpairs of lines, to space the lines from each other, and comprises twopairs ofjaws generally indicated at 1 and 2 in FIG. 1. The pairs of jawscomprise fixed jaw parts 1 a and 2 a respectively, and movable jaw parts1 b and 2 b. The fixed jaw parts 1 a and 2 a are carried at either endof a spacer body member 3, on which the movable jaw parts 1 b and 2 bare slidably mounted, so that the movable jaw parts 1 b and 2 b may movein the direction of arrows B during operation of a lever action closuremechanism which operates between the jaw pairs 1 and 2.

The closure mechanism comprises closure lever 4 pivotally engaged withone of the movable jaw parts 2 b and link 6 -pivotally connected to theclosure lever 4 intermediate of its length at 7 and to the other movablejaw part 1 b at 8. In the preferred form twin spacer shown the fixed jawparts 1 a and 2 a are provided one at either end of the spacer bodymember 3 and face each other as shown and operation of the lever actionclosure mechanism slides the two movable jaw parts 1 b and 2 b away fromeach other and towards the two fixed jaw parts to close the spacer.

The spacer body member 3 having fixed jaw parts 1 a and 2 a at eitherend and mounting the movable jaw parts 1 b and 2 b may have an I or Tcross-section in shape and the movable jaw parts 1 b and 2 b are mountedfor sliding movement along the member 3 by legs 9 extending around a webof the I-cross-section body member 3 as shown, so as to capture themovable jaw parts 1 b and 2 b on the spacer body, while enabling slidingmovement in the direction of arrows B when the closure lever 4 is movedin the direction of arrow C in FIG. 1 to its closed position shown inFIG. 2.

In use, to close the spacer after it has been fitted in between.Adjacent lines so that the lines are positioned one between each pairofjaws, the closure lever 4 is moved in the direction of arrow C,causing the movable jaw parts 1 b and 2 b to move slidingly away fromeach other towards, and to close against, the fixed jaw parts 1 a and 2a, so that when the spacer is fully closed, the lines will be capturedbetween the two closed jaws on each side of the spacer.

Typically the spacer components will be formed from aluminum or otherlightweight material. The spacer jaws mount insulating components 10formed from rubber or X other non-conducting and preferably resilientmaterial which when the spacer is closed will press tightly around thetwo lines as shown in FIG. 2.

Preferably the spacer includes means for snap locking the free end 4 aof the longer member 4 in position as shown in FIG. 2 when the spacer isclosed. Any suitable mechanism may be employed but in the preferred formand referring to FIG. 4, the free end 4 a of the lever member 4comprises an internal bore 4 b housing a spring 11 to one end of whichis attached a bush 12. A pin 13 extends through the bush 12 and throughslots 14 on either side of the end of the lever member as shown. Duringclosing of the lever member 4 the pin 13 engages striker portions 1c onone of the movable jaw parts 1 b on either side, depressing the spring11 in the end of the lever member 4, and then snap locks into the hookshaped recesses 15 on either side as shown in FIG. 2. If required formaintenance or relocation of the spacer, the spacer may be opened byusing an L-shaped tool to depress the spring 11 and move the pin 13 outof recesses 15 on either side,en pivot out the end of the lever member4.

In the preferred form twin spacer described above, one jaw part movesslidingly towards the other jaw part to close each pair of jaws onoperation of the lever action closure mechanism, but alternatively forexample the two jaws of each pair of jaws may be pivotally mountedrelative to one another so that operation of the closure lever willcause the two jaws to pivot towards each other, to close about thelines. Other equivalent mechanical arrangements are possible utilizing alever action closure mechanism to enable the spacer to be closed aboutadjacent lines by a lever action in fitting of the spacer.

The preferred form twin spacer shown in the drawing is for fittingbetween two lines and for example a triple spacer may include threepairs of jaws intended to enable fitting of the spacer to three adjacentlines, with two similar lever action closure mechanisms provided onebetween each pair of jaws. A quadruple spacer for fitting between fouradjacent lines may comprise four pairs of closable jaws and three leveraction closure mechanisms between each jaw pair, and so on.

The foregoing describes the invention including a preferred formthereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scopehereof as defined in the accompanying claims.

We claim:
 1. A line spacer for use between lines to maintain the lines at a set spacing from each other, including two spaced jaw parts provided, send of a spacer body member wherein each spaced jaw part comprises a fixed jaw part and a movable jaw part, the spacer body member connecting the two fixed jaw parts and slidingly carrying the two movable jaw parts between the two fixed jaw parts, and a lever action closure mechanism operable to slidingly move the two moveable jaw parts to close the two moveable jaw parts against the two fixed jaw parts after engaging of the spacer onto adjacent lines to fix the spacer in position between the lines.
 2. A line spacer according to claim 1 wherein the two fixed jaw parts face one another from either end of the spacer member and the lever action closure mechanism operates between the two movable jaw parts to slidingly move each away from the other and towards the two fixed jaw parts to close the line spacer.
 3. A spacer according to claim 2, wherein the lever action closure mechanism comprises a longer member pivotally coupled at one end to one of the two movable jaw parts and having a free end and a length, and a shorter member pivotally coupled between a point intermediate of the length of the longer member and the other movable jaw part.
 4. A spacer according to claim 3 including means for snap locking the free end of said longer member against the other of the movable jaw parts when the line spacer is closed.
 5. A spacer according to claim 4 wherein the free end of said longer member contains a spring snap locking mechanism.
 6. A spacer according to claim 5, wherein said spring snap locking mechanism includes a transverse protrusion on either side of the free end of said longer member which is spring biased towards said free end, which engages hook-shaped recesses on either side of said other of the movable jaw parts when the line spacer is closed.
 7. A line spacer for use between lines to maintain the lines at a set spacing from each other, including two spaced jaw parts provided one at either end of a spacer body member wherein each spaced jaw part comprises a fixed jaw part and a movable jaw part, the spacer body member connecting the two fixed jaw parts and slidingly carrying the two movable jaw parts between the two fixed jaw parts and a lever action closure mechanism, comprising a longer member pivotally coupled at one end to one of the two moveable jaw parts and having a free end and a length, and a shorter member pivotally coupled between a point intermediate of the length of the longer member and the other moveable jaw part, said lever action closure mechanism operable to move the two moveable jaw parts to close the two moveable jaw parts against the two fixed jaw parts after engaging of the spacer onto adjacent lines to fix the spacer in position between the lines. 